Three weeks ago, one of my sweet nieces who used to make and bring me dinner every other week after my treatments (she was one of 3), sent me a Groupon notice for the Big Boss Oil-less Fryer.
She knows I love Sweet Potato Fries, and the only place I can get them air-fried is in Berkeley (15 miles away). I immediately sent off for the Fryer... a $79 bargain.

A week later, UPS delivered a huge box to my front door. I couldn't imagine what it was. Yes, you guessed it was the Big Boss... and it was BIG!! In factAWE-inspiring (phantom organ music here).

My son and I hauled it out of the box with two cranes and a winch, and set it on the piano bench. Why the piano bench? I'm not sure. It seemed too overwhelming for the kitchen counter, and since the piano is just around the corner in the breakfast/computer den.. it seemed close enough but not too close.

The next 7 days I looked at it from a 5 -6 foot distance, assessing its personality.

The 8th day it seemed less imposing and actually friendly.

In the meantime, my 5 lb. bag of sweet potatoes was twirling its thumbs and tried to trip me twice as I passed by it on my way to the Cereal cabinet!

The 9th day.... TA DAAAA...I peeled two potatoes and my boyfriend J cut them into strips. He and my son and three neighbor kids, moved the BIG BOSS to the kitchen counter. He wiped down the large glass bowl and other parts.

We read the instructions and suggestions and directions. Carefully we placed the potatoes on the racks, cleared the area, plugged it in, set the temperature at 450º, and turned the timer to 12 minutes. J then lowered the handle into place (which turns the BOSS on apparently) then...

and WHOA!! My eyes!!

An intense infrared glow filled the house, spilled down the counter to the floor and leaked out the doors onto the streets.

"I don't think so," he whispered back... his arms still spread out as if to shield us from an impending blast.

I tried to act nonchalant, and went back to chopping salad greens, peeking over my shoulder at the glowing UFO on the counter.

12 minutes were up. Bodies came from everywhere to see if the fries were still there, or had been beamed up to the Enterprise. Nope, there they were, a little golden, but not quite done. Oh, where did we go wrong? Maybe we should have bowed down lower?

We read the booklet again and Duh...we should have put one layer at a time for crispy fries. So J carefully fished out one rack, and turned the BOSS on again. 6 more minutes and we had Sweet Potato Fries with a mist of oil, crispy on the ends and tasty in between!

I'm sorry we ate them before I could get another photo. :(

So now I am good to go... the BOSS is back on the piano bench gloating, and I am making my list of dishes to turn over to him...Roasted Game Hens, dehydrated Veggies, Minted Salmon, Onion Rings, Kale chips, and Stuffed Peppers.